KJV King James Version
[As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Proverbs 26:21
[As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
WEB World English Bible
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
ASV American Standard Version
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
Surrounding context — Proverbs 26
18 As a mad [man] who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So [is] the man [that] deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 [As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
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Cross-references
Proverbs 15:18A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but [he that is] slow to anger appeaseth strife.Proverbs 29:22An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.2 Samuel 20:1And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name [was] Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.1 Kings 12:2-3And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard [of it], (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)Proverbs 30:33Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.1 Kings 12:20And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.Psalm 120:4Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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